Sheet-metal doubler.



W. l. 'STOOP;

SHEET METAL DOUBLER- APPLICATION FILED MAY]. 1918.

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Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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l K I g I t W. J. STOOP.

SHEET METAL DOUBLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY7. 1918.

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ATT0%P Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

UNITE TATES ATEFT FFEQE,

WILLIAM J. STOOP, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA,

SHEET-METAL DOUBLER.

Application filed May 7, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. S'roor, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and Eitate of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Metal Doublers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly 'to doubling apparatus, and more specifically to a machine for doubling sheets or packs of sheet-metal.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of doubler for sheets and packs, which is sim ple in construction, which possesses great strength and durability, and which is wholly automatic in its operation.

A. still further object is to provide a machine of the character mentioned embodying a pair of cooperating table sections which, in performing their functions, swing from horizontal to vertical positions, and which carry thereon means whereby the interposed sheets or packs doubled thereby are actuated to invariably follow a certain one "of said sections as the latter returns to its normal position.

-With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be exemplified, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view partly in top plan and partly in broken section, showing one of the table sections removed and the other occupying its elevated position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation on line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4- is'a. section on line 4 -4, Fig. 2, I

showing the table sections elevated; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the table sections illustrating the use of the means for controlling the direction of the drop of the doubled packs or sheets.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views 1 indicates a suitable base having mounted thereon adjacent to each end a pair of companion frame members 2. Mounted upon the opposite frames constituted by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 233,092.

said pairs of companion members are members 3 and 4: which form. parallel bearings for the opposite ends of two parallel transverse shafts 5 that have keyed or otherwise fixed thereto a pair of table sections 6 which, in their normal extended positions, are disposed in horizontal alined relation, as shown in Fig. 3, forming a table upon which the sheets or packs are received preparatory to doubling.

Also mounted upon said base 1 are suitable supports 7 which carry thereon bearings 8 in which is journaled a, crank shaft 9 located parallel to and at a suitable dis tance below said shafts 5. Said crank shaft is coupled at one end, asby a coupling 10, to an alined drive shaft 11 associated with a suitable source of power. While said shaft .11 may be driven in any appropriate manner, the driving means herein shown for illustrative purposes comprises an electric motor 12 the shaft 13 of which carries a pinion 14 in mesh with a gear 15 carried by a shaft 16 which carries a worm 17 in operative relation to a worm gear 18 carried by said shaft 11.

The shaft 9 has a pair of oppositely disposed cranks 19 formed thereon, each of which has connected thereto an end of a pitman 20 whose opposite end is connected by a pivot pin 21 to the upper end of a supporting link 22 which has its lower end pivotally mounted upon a suitably located support, as 23, fixed upon the base 1. Also pivoted upon said pin 21 is the outer end of an arm or lever 24: which has its opposite end pivotally mounted on the under side of the adjacent table section 6. Embodied in each arm 24 is a turnbuckle 25 whereby the length of said arm may be adjusted. With each revolution of said crank shaft 9 the two table members are actuated through the interposed mechanism described to move from the normal extended positions occupied thereby in Figs. 2 and 3 to the vertical positions shown in Fig. 4 and then to return to their said normal positions.

Fixed on the crank shaft 9 at a suitable point is a cam-wheel 26 associated with mechanism whereby two oppositely disposed clamps 27 and 28 may be swung to and from clamping relation to a pack or sheet which is positioned on said table preparatory to the doubling operation, said clamps being 10- cated to engage such pack or sheet in the line in which the doubling crease or fold is to be formed. The clamp 27, which is of approximately bell-crank form, is pivotally carried by a bracket 29 mounted upon an adjacent portion of the frame constituted by the members 2. Pivotally connected to one arm of said clamp 27 is the upper end of a lever 30 which has its lower end pivotally supported by the adjacent end of a rocker arm 31. Said rocker arm is fixed intermediate its ends upon a rocker shaft 32 which has its ends journaled in bearings 33 formed on a suitable part of the base 1. The opposite end of said rocker arm 31 has pivotally con nected thereto the lower end of an adjustable lever arm 3% whose upper end is in like manner connected to an arm of the clamp 28 which is of approximately bell-crank form and which is pivotally mounted upon a suitably located support 35. Said rocker arm carries thereon intermediate its ends an upright arm 36 which has a head 37 at its upper end. Rotatably mounted in opposed relation in said head 37 are two horizontally disposed rollers 38 and 39 which engage opposite faces of said cam wheel 26 adjacent to the peripheral edge of the latter.

In practice, when a sheet or pack has been positioned upon the table constituted by the extended sections 6, the motor 12 is started, thus imparting rotary motion to the crank shaft 9 through the intermediate gearing described. At the beginning of said motion, the plain portion of the cam-wheel 26 is engaged by the opposed rollers 38 and 39, and, consequently, the arm 36 occupies its vertical position and the rocker arm 31 occupies its horizontal position. In such position, as is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2, the two clamps 27 and 2S occupy their outwardly swung, or withdrawn positions. With an advance of said cam wheel from its at-rest position through approximately one twenty-fourth of a revolution, or 15 degrees, the laterally turned portion of said cam wheel is presented between said rollers, as shown in said Fig. 2, with the result that said arm 36 and said rocker 31 are rocked to inclined positions and said clamps 27 and 28 are swung through the intermediate levers 30 and 34-, respectively, to their clamping positions. The cranks 19 of said crank-shaft are so disposed that they begin to act, through the intermediate levers herei-nbefore described, to elevate the table sections 6 prompt-l following the actuation of the clamps to assume clamping posit-ions. Slightly prior to the time when the table sections have been elevated to a point where the clamps would otherwise be seized between the approaching folds of the sheet or pack, the plain part of the cam wheel again comes bet-ween the rollers 38 and 39, and said clamps are thereby actuated to swing clear of said folds to allow the latter to be closed one upon the other. During the last half of the revolution of the crank shaft the table sections are returned to their normal positions and the said clamps remain stationary in their withdrawn positions.

The pack-engaging portions of the clamps 27 and 28 are preferably beveled, as shown, to permit the table sections to assume sharply inclined positions prior to withdrawal of said clamps.

It is desirable that the doubled sheets or packs be uniformly actuated to fall upon one of the table sections (3. I have therefore provided means whereby such packs or sheets will be positively directed so that they will uniformly fall with one of said sections. Said means comprises a weighted arm i0 pivotally mounted at a suitable point on the under side of the section opposite that upon which it is desired that the pack shall fall. Fixed to said arm is an arcuately curved member 41 having an end protruding through an aperture 13 in the adjacent table section into engagement with the interposed pack and adapted to exert suflicient force against the latter to cause it to fall away from said section as the sections move away from each other, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Suitable guide plates, as 4&2, are preferably located at one side of the table so that the lateral edges of sheets deposited on said table may be squared thereagainst prior to the beginning of the doubling operation.

What is claimed is l. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two con panion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable to vertical positions wherein they assume folded relation, a crank-shaft having oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return during each revolution of said shaft, and pivoted clamps automatically movable into and out of clamping relation to sheets carried by said table.

2. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable to vertical positions wherein they assume folded relation, a crank-shaft having oppositely disposed cranks, jointed levers interposed between each of said table sections and a fixed part, a pitman connecting each crank to said levers whereby the latter are moved to and from approximately alined relation for respectively elevating and lowering said sections in each revolution of said shaft, and pivoted clamps automatically actuated to assume clamping relation to sheets carried by said table at the beginning of the section elevating movement and to withdraw from operative position near the end of said movement. 7

i 3. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and simultaneously 'movable to upright folded positions, a

c1*ank-shaft-'located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, clamps automatically actuated to assume clamping relation to sheets carried by said table at the beginning of folding movement of the tablesections and to withdraw from operative relation to said sheets at a predetermined point in said movement.

4. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposedin horizontally alined relation and simultaneously movable to upright folded positions, a crank-shaft located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, and clamping means automatically actuated to move into and out of clamping relation to sheets car ried by said table and adapted for holding said sheets during the major part of the folding movement of the latter.

5. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and simultaneously movable to upright folded positions, a crank-shaft located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections wherebythe latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, means for clamping sheets on said table, and means maintaining said clamping means in operative position throughout the major part of the upward folding movement of said table.

6. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and simultaneously movable to upright folded positions, a crank-shaft located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table and adapted to cooperate with the table sections for forming a central transverse folding crease in the sheet, and automatic means for actuating said clamps.

7. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two companion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and simultaneously movable to upright folded positions, a crank-shaft located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table and adapted to cooperate with the table sections for form ing a central transverse folding crease in the sheet, and automatic means for actuating said clamps, the last-mentioned means including a cam-wheel carried by said crank shaft.

8. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two co1n panion sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and simultaneously movable to upright folded positions, a crank-shaft located beneath said table and having two oppositely disposed cranks, means interposed between said cranks and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move to and from folded positions with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table and adapted to cooperate with the table sections for forming a central transverse folding crease in the sheet, automatic means for actuating said clamps, the last-mentioned means including a cam-wheel carried by said crank-shaft, a rocker-member actuated by said cam-wheel, and pivoted levers interposed between said rocker-member and said clamps.

9. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two pivotally mounted table sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable. into upright folded relation, a crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps locatedv at opposite sides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in the sheet, and means actuating said clamps to move into and maintain operative positions durin the major part of the folding movement of i316 table sections.

10. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two piv' otally mounted table sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable into upright folded relation, a crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps located at opposite sides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in the sheet, and means in cluding a cam-wheel carried by said shaft whereby said clamps are moved into and out of operative positions. Y

11. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two pivotally mounted table sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable into upright folded relation, a crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said'sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps located at opposite sides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in the sheet, levers having pivotal connection with said clamps, and means interposed between said shaft and said levers whereby the latter are actuated to move said clamps to and from operative positions.

12. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two pivotally mounted table sections normally dis posed in horizontally alined relation and movable into upright folded relation, a

crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps located. at opposite sides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in. the sheet, levers having pivotal connection with said clamps, a camwheel carried by said shaft, and means interposed between said cam-wheel and said levers whereby the latter are actuated to move said clamps to and from operative positions.

13. A doubler mechanism comprising a sheet-receiving table composed of two pivotally mounted table sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable into upright folded relation, a crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps located at opposite sides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in the sheet, levers having pivotal connection with said clamps, a camwheel carried by said shaft, and means interposed between said cam-wheel and said levers and adapted to be oscillated by said wheel whereby said levers are actuated to move said clamps into and out of operative positions.

14. A doubler mechanism OOlIlPl'lSlllg a sheet-receiving table composed of two pivotally mounted table sections normally disposed in horizontally alined relation and movable into upright folded relation, a crank-shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said sections whereby the latter are actuated to move from normal to folded positions and return with each revolution of said shaft, pivoted clamps located at oppositesides of said table and movable into and out of clamping relation to a sheet carried by said table, said clamps cooperating with the table sections for forming a folding crease in the sheet, levers having pivotal connection with said clamps, a cam-wheel carried by said shaft, and a rocker-member operatively associated with said cam-wheel. and having connection with said levers whereby said clamps are actuated to move into and out of operative positions.

15. In a doubler mechanism, the combination with a pair of folding table sections, one of which has an aperture therein, of a weighted arm pivotally carried on the under side of the apertured section, and a member carried by said arm adapted when said sections occupy upright positions to protrude through said aperture into engagement with a sheet interposed between said sections.

16. In a doubler mechanism, the combination with a pair of folding table sections, one of which has an aperture therein, of a depending arm pivoted on the under side of the apertured section, and an arcuately curved member carried by said arm, said member being adapted to protrude through said aperture into engagement with a sheet disposed between said sections and to exert pressure whereby said sheet is actuated to follow the opposite table section as the latter moves from upright to. lowered position.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM J. STOOP. Witnesses H. E. DUNLAP, J. H. HoUsE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .P'atents.

Washington, D. G. V 

